If anyone needed proof that NASCAR’s new elimination style championship format stirs emotions they need only look to the post race “party” Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Moments after the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Bank of America 500 tempers, and fists, flew. Several drivers, and team members, tangled on live TV in the garage area in an incident that carried over from contact between cars on the races “cool-down” lap.
The entire charade apparently began during the race. On lap 272 of 334, Brad Keselowski who had remained out while the rest of the leaders pitted, led to the green flag on a restart. On older tires Keselowski struggled as the field headed into turn 1. His Ford drifted up and made contact with the Toyota being driven by Matt Kenseth. Kenseth was forced into the wall and began to fade as Keselowski raced on. Kenseth faded and was soon back to 18th.
That wasn’t the last contact for Keselowski and another driver. On the final restart of the race, Keselowski and Denny Hamlin bumped; Hamlin held on to finish ninth, Keselowski 16th. Kenseth finished the night 19th. MORE>>>
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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